Alk issues

[BeltwayBandit]

Ok.. Here is my problem. I hooked up a Kalk reactor and have been topping of with it for about a month and a half. My Ca level is between 450 and 500. My PH is a bit low at 7.9 and my alk is currently at 5.5 DKh. I have been boosting the alk with part 1 of B-Ionic and with baking soda. I got it up to 7 but it keeps falling. I thought that once I boosted the Alk the Kalk reactor would keep it up but that isn't happening. It has been about 3 weeks since I charged the kalk reactor, but I still have powder at the bottom and the entire column turns milky white when agitated. Any thoughts on why I can't keep the Alk up without boosting it?

 

BB

[ErikS]

So the Ca stays stable (in the 450 - 500 range) and the Alk drops?

 

Hmmmmm......that's an interesting one. Best article I've read is here:

 

Alk/Ca Issues - Dr. Randy

 

Weird part is that it would seem to say that Ca has been dosed in excess of Alk - how this happens with Kalk? (doesn't seem to make any sense to me). Maybe livestock that's driving down Alk while Ca demand is low?

 

One thing seems certain from the article - you need to take the Kalk reactor offline while making the adjustments. I'd also switch to washing soda as the buffer, baking soda = PH down & washing soda = PH up. Once adjusted to be in balance then you should be able to put the reactor back online.

 

(though why it happened in the 1st place??????)

[JMsAquarium]

Have you checked the output from your reactor? This will give you info on the PH and alk levels from the unit.

As for still having kalk powder at the bottom, it's normal, same with the cloudy water when stirring.

Also, did you had the same issues before using the reactor?

 

As per what you are describing your kalk reactor seems to be working fine. Seems that the problem is in your tank, but I have no idea on what maight cause it.

[BeltwayBandit]

So the Ca stays stable (in the 450 - 500 range) and the Alk drops?

 

Hmmmmm......that's an interesting one. Best article I've read is here:

 

Alk/Ca Issues - Dr. Randy

 

Weird part is that it would seem to say that Ca has been dosed in excess of Alk - how this happens with Kalk? (doesn't seem to make any sense to me). Maybe livestock that's driving down Alk while Ca demand is low?

 

One thing seems certain from the article - you need to take the Kalk reactor offline while making the adjustments. I'd also switch to washing soda as the buffer, baking soda = PH down & washing soda = PH up. Once adjusted to be in balance then you should be able to put the reactor back online.

 

(though why it happened in the 1st place??????)

46529[/snapback]

 

 

That makes sense. My Ca got boosted because when I had an algae outbreak I dosed calcium, because my calcium was low. But I didn't boost the alk. It seems that all my efforts resulted in a massive overabundance of calcium in the tank. When I first started putting the B-Ionic part 1 in, I would actually precipitate calcium out of solution. That has fortunately stopped. I think I will try the washing soda solution. I have also been doing frequent water changes. In the past week I have changed over 20 gallons in a 130-150 gallon system. Any ideas where I can get washing soda? I have been reading that article. Unfortunately, I am scenario 4. I was hoping that I could get it all in balance with a few tweaks. That has not proven to be the case.

[JMsAquarium]

Any ideas where I can get washing soda? 

46537[/snapback]

 

 

Any grocery store, Safeway, Giant ect... Make sure you buy just plain washing soda, without any additives. Arm and Hammer, yellow box, if I remember well.

[ErikS]

yellow box, if I remember well.

Yep - you remember well :D I've never found it at Giant but I've gotten it at Safeway.

 

I would think that taking the reactor offline is crucial. Buffering the ALK will raise it (DUH ) & the Ca should drop of it's own accord. Once they're in balance then bringing the reactor back online should keep them there.

 

Which brand of salt? IO is/can be a tad low on ALK (though not like Oceanic) - though one would think that would bring them more into line?

 

:wall: Water chemistry & skimmers - the bain of reefers everywhere

[BeltwayBandit]

Yep - you remember well :D I've never found it at Giant but I've gotten it at Safeway.

 

I would think that taking the reactor offline is crucial. Buffering the ALK will raise it (DUH ) & the Ca should drop of it's own accord. Once they're in balance then bringing the reactor back online should keep them there.

 

Which brand of salt? IO is/can be a tad low on ALK (though not like Oceanic) - though one would think that would bring them more into line?

 

:wall: Water chemistry & skimmers - the bain of reefers everywhere

46543[/snapback]

 

I got some arm and hammer, at safeway. FYI shoppers doesn't carry it. I have enough to last me at least a decade I think. (They only had the big box). Wow, Eric you are batting 1.000. I do use IO and it does run low on alk out of the box. When I mixed up a new batch I only got a reading of about 8 dkh. I have some water that I have mixed already. I am going to change 6 gallons and add some washing soda in with the change. We'll see what that does.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

BB

[ErikS]

I hear that - even the small box is enough to last a LONG time (I use it to wash filter socks - that helps get rid of some) Good news is think of what "aquarium specific" stuff would have cost :D

 

To be fair 8.0 DKH is close to NSW so I don't really "blame" IO (in fact I run my tank @ 8.0 for that very reason = no adjustments for water changes). But if you run the tank higher then it does need buffering.

[Lee Stearns]

Good Job Erik- I had the same feeling that Calcium was bumped somewhere along the line to cause a radical drop in alk- However my experience is that Alk drops slowly over time, But then that would also be consitant with the changing out of about 5 gallons a week with new IO salt water, Hmmm- But I also think the alk is used in the system some as well, and I have to bump once a week with a little Baking soda- My kalk drip which is supposed to be balanced ALk and calcium keeps me from having to use washing soda, except on rare occasions as my PH remains cosistantly high. Be careful with the washing soda a little will go a long ways in bumping PH.

[BeltwayBandit]

Good Job Erik- I had the same feeling that Calcium was bumped somewhere along the line to cause a radical drop in alk- However my experience is that Alk drops slowly over time, But then that would also be consitant with the changing out of about 5 gallons a week with new IO salt water, Hmmm- But I also think the alk is used in the system some as well, and I have to bump once a week with a little Baking soda- My kalk drip which is supposed to be balanced ALk and calcium keeps me from having to use washing soda, except on rare occasions as my PH remains cosistantly high. Be careful with the washing soda a little will go a long ways in bumping PH.

46682[/snapback]

 

 

Its kinda like Brylcreem: A little dab'll do ya! I put about a teaspoon and a half in with my water change and was able to bump my alk by a little over 1 dkh and my ph from 7.9 to 8.2. I didn't realize how well that stuff worked. I did not intend for it to move that much. According to the article that Eric posted I thought I would get about a .5 dkh boost and about a .1 increase in my pH. Hopefully I didn't shock everything with that little spike.

 

PS if anyone needs some washing soda...